While We’re Waiting… Ohio State marches on, Haden’s blackboard material and looking at the Tribe’s offseason

Cleveland sports fans are waiting. Thus, while we’re all waiting, the WFNY editors thought you might enjoy reading. Because you never know how long we might be waiting. So here are assorted reading goodies for you to enjoy. Send more good links for tomorrow’s edition to tips@waitingfornextyear.com.

Jeez, Ohio State, why do you keep having to schedule teams like Purd- oh. I see. “The Buckeyes scored on the second play of the game – a 33-yard pick-six by Doran Grant – and their second play from scrimmage – a Braxton Miller-to Jeff Heuerman 40-yard touchdown pass – to assert their dominance and set the cruise control en route to a 56-0 victory. It was the second shutout of the season and first against an FBS opponent since the 2011 season opener versus Akron.

Win No. 21 in a row came with nary a tremble for Ohio State fans. Since the turn of the 21st century, the Buckeyes were just 2-4 in West Lafayette prior to Saturday. It took all of one quarter to reverse the curse. In recent weeks, college football has been tossed into a hamster ball and flung around with upsets rearranging the rankings the past two weekends. Fourth-ranked Ohio State made sure it wouldn’t be part of the trend in Week 3.

“You take a look two years, [Ohio State] lost. Last year, we could’ve lost to the same team. This year, we played at a much high level,” head coach Urban Meyer said. “I know the history. We actually had a great discussion about it. Jack Mewhort brought it up. These players are very smart. They understood it and came out and took care of business.”” [Kyle Rowland/Eleven Warriors].

–

Smells like a whole lot of nuthin to me. “Cleveland Browns CB Joe Haden may have done his team a huge disservice for their upcoming game against the defending Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens, a team they’ve lost to 11 times in a row. Earlier in the week Haden had this to say:

“The Ravens aren’t the Ravens of old,” Haden said via the Cleveland Plain-Dealer. “They’re still really good, a real talented team, a division opponent, but at the same time, our team is a whole different team. It’s a different squad. We still haven’t gotten over the hump, but there’s no reason why we can’t.”

Now, the comments aren’t too bad when you look at them, but my question is why make those comments at all? Ravens top WR Torrey Smith admitted there was some truth to what Haden said.

“I mean, I think it’s safe to say,” Smith said. “It’s not the same team. It’s  not like I’m going to take anything to him. We’re still built the same, but it’s  not the same guys. That’s just fact to it.”

Ravens starting RT Michael Oher also responded to Haden’s comments.

“Everybody got the email, everybody saw it,” Oher said. “I trust in the guys  upstairs. We’ve got great guys upstairs. If you’re in this organization as a  player, you’re a great player and we’re here for a reason. I’m looking for great  things in the future for this team the next nine weeks.”” [Dan Abeshouse/Rant Sports].

–

Ohio State vs Purdon’t in .gifs. [Luke Zimmerman/Land-Grant Holyland].

–

Keep that seat warm for Lindor! “With thoughts of trading Cabrera circling and questions as to the future of the Indians, the potential to use Aviles as a starting position player is not out of the question. In 2012, he was the Red Sox starting shortstop until being traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for John Farrell, eventually coming to the Indians with Yan Gomes in a trade that sent Esmil Rogers to Toronto.

Aviles in under contract with the Indians until the end of 2014. His salary will be $3.5 million for the coming year. It obviously makes sense to keep him, but what is his ideal role to be in the coming season?

Aviles hit in 124 games with the Tribe this season. He batted .252 on the season and hit .282/.368/.650. In 394 at-bats, Aviles hit 15 doubles and nine home runs. He drove in 46 RBI and struck to 41 times. He was a strong asset to the Tribe bench and played a key role in the newly-developed Goon Squad this season. Should Aviles move to a starting role, it could be a blow to the bench.” [Laurel Wilder/Did the Tribe Win?].

–

I’ll be really interested to see how the Tribe handles this offseason. I would assume they’d add more pieces. [Andy Nichols/Indians Baseball Insider].

–

Could Chris Perez join former Indians Jhonny Peralta and Victor Martinez in Detroit? “Because Detroit tends to do well with Cleveland’s castoffs (paging Jhonny Peralta…)

No, but seriously. The Tigers are looking to rebuild the bullpen, and Perez might be an incredible buy-low option. Taking a look at his 2013 line, there are flashes of 2012 Joaquin Benoit. Perez suffered from incredibly bad luck on balls in play (his batting average on balls in play, or BABIP was 40 points above his career numbers), on home runs (his HR/9 jumped by nearly 80 points) and his line suffered from a poor September, in which he posted a 5.73 ERA and blew a couple saves. Perez also had injury woes last season, being placed on the disabled list in May with shoulder problems, but he recovered and his velocity had started to return by the end of the year.

The Tigers are looking to fill the three spots in the back end of the bullpen vacated by Joaquin Benoit, Jose Veras and Drew Smyly (who will presumably return to the rotation), and Perez provides the Tigers with an experienced relief arm who could either set up or close. [David Tokarz/Bless You Boys].

–

The Browns have a very winnable game on this afternoon. “Both teams come in on losing streaks – three games for the Browns, two for the Ravens – and both are looking to try and stay on the fringes of the playoffs in the AFC.

“It’s been a tough stretch,” Browns coach Rob Chudzinksi told ESPN. “What guys have learned playing some very good teams is we’ve played, whether it’s a half, whether it’s a quarter, whether it’s a couple series or three quarters of games, very well at times. It’s a matter of consistently putting it together for four quarters. That’s what the mission is we’re on right now.”

Moral victories – it’s the new thing in Berea.

The Browns will be looking to take advantage of a Baltimore defense that has some holes in it – the Ravens are fifth worst in the NFL, giving up eight yards per pass attempt – but can still be tough when it needs to be as they have only given up five red zone touchdowns in 19 attempts (tops in the league) and are fifth on third-down conversions at 34.3 percent.

But a savvy, veteran quarterback like Campbell should be able to exploit the shortcomings of a defense, though, especially if he can find Josh Gordon in the passing game.” [Tom Moore/The Cleveland Fan].

–

This was a very frustrating Cavs loss. Frustrating because the Pacers are simply a better team. “All in all, what a miserable matchup for the Cavaliers: It’s a team that really relies on guys like Tristan Thompson getting garbage buckets around the rim and brilliant iso ball from the perimeter, and the Pacers just weren’t having it. They allowed the Cavaliers a steady diet of midrange jumpers and the Cavaliers were more than happy to take them. The Pacers dictated the terms for the game, and there’s no shame in that; this team is a title contender.

Tristan specifically was really limited tonight after two incredibly strong showings in the first couple of games. He finished with two points and four rebounds, but played pretty excellent defense along with Varejao on the super talented front line of West and Hibbert. Teams that rebound the ball well and defend the rim are going to be tough for Tristan, and his jumper abandoned him tonight. There’s nothing to worry about long term here.

What is getting a little concerning is Kyrie Irving’s shot selection. He spent a lot of time in the midrange and has over-dribbled more often than I’d like. Mike Brown has to get this team into some more sets offensively, because there’s no way a team with this much offensive talent should be shooting this poorly to open the season. There’s a real shortage of easy buckets.” [Carter Rodriguez/Real Cavs Fans].